An Ogoni leader and former National Treasurer of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Hon Kenneth Kobani on Sunday, August 4, 2013 made his first public appearance in a highly mobilized political forum since after the last electioneering campaign during the 2011 general election in Bodo City, his home town in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Hon Kobani, who apparently has rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party, his original political family, is also the Patron of Gokana chapter of the political machine of the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, the Grassroot Development Initiatives, GDI.
It was the GDI function in Bodo that provided an opportunity for the highly esteemed Ogoni son and leader, Hon Kobani to inform his teeming supporters and the people of Gokana, and by extension, Ogoni people that he and other political allies have returned from ‘exile’ to reclaim the soul of not only the local government or the state but the nation, come 2015.
The Grassroot Development Initiative was in Bodo City to observe its dedication and thanksgiving service at the St Patrick Catholic Church, Bodo Parish during which they also inaugurated the LGA chapter and the 17 Wards Executive Councils.
Hon Kobani who took the stage after a motivational speech delivered by the state Vice Chairman, Rivers South-East Senatorial District of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dr Fred Barivure Kpakol, commended Chief Wike who he called a ‘liberator’ and ‘Emancipator’.
The former Commissioner of Finance, Rivers State thanked members of the PDP for holding forth while he and other progressives were on ‘exile’ out of the party.
He charged the Gokana people not to despair but to arise and join the current wave of change in the state.
According to him, “it is unfortunate that we now have a government of doom ruining Gokana. But change is here and has come to stay. I laugh when they say the Minister (referring to Wike) cannot enter Gokana. But I tell you, power belongs and comes from God.
“The people who allow and make persons come to Gokana are here, and we will not also allow some boys to share our resources with other boys in Lagos. We are here to make good things happen” he said.
Hon Kobani reassured the visiting PDP and GDI chieftains, who came with the Grand Patron of GDI, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, of the total commitment of the people of Gokana to their cause, even as he said, “Gokana is settled, complete, and calm. We have sealed up an article of faith with our people because the regime of yesterday has gone and a new regime has come.
“The spirit of God has left them, that is why they have gone to try to stop a Rev Father from holding the thanksgiving service. They are also same people who are causing brothers and communities to fight one another in this area and we will not allow that anymore”.
Hon Kobani, who narrated how his late father, Chief Edward Kobani used to galvanize political, social and even economic life in Gokana, and entire Ogoni area, said “the greed of only two persons destroyed the love that used to be in Gokana, adding that the desired peace will be restored in the area by the current political move, and “there is no alternative to this process we have commenced because Gokana people have spoken”, he reiterated.
Earlier, Chief Dr Fred Kpakol had emphatically said they are poised to take over the 17 wards of Gokana, thanking Hon Kobani for his disposition to join forces with him in the task at hand, assuring him (Kobani) of his full and continued collaboration in pulling down strongholds in Gokana.
The eloquent Kpakol described GDI as a ‘political rainbow coalition’, and like an Eagle that does not fly against the wind but uses all its natural characteristics to achieve its desires and also succeeds in all its endeavors.
“We would crush all opposition and tenaciously support the cause of liberation of our people”, Kpakol assured, while unequivocally pledged the Gokana people’s loyalty to the Wike initiative.
He took time to conduct roll call of the various 17 wards in the LGA to affirm to the visitors of the total devotion and grassroot mobilization he and other party leaders in the area had done.
Each of the distinguished personalities took turn to address the crowd. Below are excerpts of their various speeches:
Hon Austin Opara:
“We cannot belong to the wrong part. We have been deceived for so long and will not give in to those deceptions anymore.
“Coming into Bodo you will know that things have gone wrong. I am an Ogoni man, from B.Dere, where I taught and lived, that is why I join you to welcome our guests to Gokana.
“I want to sound it louder that Rivers State is for the President, not Vice President”.
Hon Olaka Wogu:
“We condemn the lack of corresponding development in Rivers State, inspite of the huge resources that come in billions, that is even more than the revenue and allocations of six states in the North East. There is nothing to show for it in Rivers State.
“I have good reasons for joining GDI because I don’t want to be part of the damage in Rivers State caused by the present state administration. Rivers State is the only state that does not have accountability, Rivers State House of Assembly is moribond, no institution asks question about how our resources is been squandered.
“We have decided now to stand and vote where people of integrity are standing and voting in 2015 elections season.
“We support Dr Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 without shaking and doubt”.
Hon Dum Deekor
“We will deliver. All we need to do is to remain committed and focused”.
Dr Jacobson Nbina:
“We are not deterred by their noise.
“The little noise you hear from Ogoni are from Wike’s former friends. These are empty noise because they will no longer make any positive impact. The tide is against them”.
Chief Monday Ngbor:
“We call on our leader, and Minister of State for Education, Chief Barr Nyesom Wike to please, contest for governor in 2015.
“We do not need to be sentimental about this”.
Rt Hon Evans Bipi
“I thank you for your support. I only want to tell you I am the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“If they think otherwise, why will they go to court and also want the functions of the Assembly to be taken over by the National Assembly?###
Source: NationalNetwork